City Of Lies by Sam Hawke exclusive cover reveal! | SciFiNow

Sam Hawke’s debut novel City Of Lies is coming to the UK in August from Bantam Press and we have an exclusive first look at the cover of the much-buzzed fantasy for you!

Here’s what you need to know about City Of Lies:

“I was seven years old the first time my uncle poisoned me . . .

Only a handful of people in Silasta know Jovan’s real purpose in life. To most, he is just another son of the ruling class. The quiet, forgettable friend of the Chancellor’s charming, irresponsible heir. In reality, Jovan has been trained for most of his life to detect, concoct and withstand poisons in order to protect the ruling family.

His sister Kalina is too frail to share in their secret family duty. While other women of the city hold positions of power and responsibility, her path is full of secrets and lies – some hidden even from her own brother.

Up until now, peace has reigned in Silasta for hundreds of years. But when the Chancellor succumbs to an unknown poison and an army storms the gates, the so-called Bright City is completely unprepared. It falls to Jovan and Kalina to protect the heir and save their homeland – but first they must make their way through a new world of unexpected treachery – a world where the ancient spirits are rising . . . and angry.”

We used the phrase “much-buzzed” a bit earlier, and there’s a slew of endorsements from an impressive group of authors here too:

“A tale of poisoners, deceit and treachery that will surely keep readers entranced. I don’t read many stories as twisty and unpredictable, especially in the latter chapters, as this one, and I loved what Sam Hawke did.“—Terry Brooks

“If the first line doesn’t make you buy this book, you should turn in your fantasy-lover’s badge. City Of Lies got me through sitting seven hours in an airport, and proves that a tale about the one who risks his life to thwart assassins can be as compelling as any assassin’s tale.“—Robin Hobb

“Sibling protagonists anchor this twisty story of old grievances coming to a boil. Hawke writes with nuance about the loves, loyalties, ambitions, and resentments that bind her characters together and threaten to tear them apart.“—Kate Elliott

“Absolutely loved this; the world building is brilliant, the mystery and crime elements merge seamlessly into a fantastical world of poisoners, warrior-guilds and ancient magic. But the heart of the story is the central characters, they’re written with such depth, flawed, human and likeable. City Of Lies is a wonderful read and one that I’d highly recommend to all lovers of fantasy.”—John Gwynne

“An enormously enjoyable read, one of the best new fantasies I’ve seen in a long time.“—Adrian Tchaikovsky

City Of Lies by Sam Hawke will be available from Bantam Press from 23 August 2018.